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These phots are a week late, but I thought I’d share them anyway. Last Wednesday I went to see the cherry blossoms on the day they peaked. If you ever have the chance to see them when they are in full bloom I highly recommend it! I think it looks like the branches are covered in fluffy, pink, cotton candy. It is always crowded, but it’s completely worth it.
Just an idea of what I am up to today! If you have a snow day today enjoy!
(Just as an fyi, my livingroom isn’t that dark, it’s just a filter.)
Sunday I took a trip to the National Gallery of Art to see Michelangelo’s David-Apollo , It’s called the David-Apollo because they aren’t sure who it is exactly. I think it is a David, he doesn’t seem Apollo-esque enough to me.
This statue was on loan from the Bargello in Florence. I have seen the statue in Florence before, but I figured I’d go see it again. It’s like when a good friend comes to town you make sure you stop by and say hello during their visit.
To top the visit off, there was an amazing piano trio playing later that evening for which I was able to stay! (FYI: a piano trio means that there is a piano and two other instruments, usually a cello and violin, all playing together. It doesn’t mean a trio of pianos.)
Update: Just found this article by Simcha Fisher on children and and their take on art. Loved it!
Just a reminder: the March for Life is next Friday, January 25, 2013 here in Washington, DC. Hope you can make it! The west coast equivelent, the Walk for Life is in San Francisco, CA on Saturday, January 26, 2013.
1/3 of my generation is missing because of abortion. It’s time for our nation to stand up for the unborn and give them a chance to live!
It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish. ~Mother Theresa
It’s 2013! I hope your New Year is off to an amazing start! What are your resolutions for this year? Mine include:
1) Adoration once a week
2) Hire a financial planner (if left to my own designs I would stuff money in my mattress)
3) Take a trip outside the country
4) Start an Etsy Shop (ohh, yes, there is a pile of vintage bags hanging out under my bed waiting for this one)
5) Hike a tiny potion of the Appalachian Trail
6) See historical landmarks including: the Capitol, Monticello, Williamsburg and Gettysburg (it’s about time, don’t you think?)
7) Take more risks (I am not sure what this involves exactly, but as an overly cautious person it sounds like something I should do)
8) Find an armoire for my room
9) Have breakfast in a café once a week
10) Try a new restaurant once a month
I did a pretty good job keeping last year’s resolutions . . .
Well, it’s over for another four years. I am so disappointed and sickened - there is nothing else to be said or done for the moment. I am going to keep a stiff upper lip and make french onion soup, pour a glass of red wine and enjoy the excellent company of a few good friends. Balm for the soul indeed.
All the same this quote from G.K. Chesterton’s The Ballad of the White Horse kept running through my mind today:
“The men of the East may spell the stars,
And times and triumphs mark,
But the men signed of the cross of Christ
Go gaily in the dark.”
Going gaily in the dark doesn’t mean that we are bumbling about. It means marching into a situation that is dire, but still letting our hearts be joyful, for what do we have to fear?
If you need some more inspirations for post election musings here are a few:
A great quote by St. Augustine from Ten Thousand Places.
An Election Reflection via Joan in Ordinary Time
What Cardinal Dolan said and commentary from Whispers in the Loggia.
A thank-you to the Romneys from Blog of the Courtier.
What to do when the going gets tough, from Dixie Grit (things always feel better when your nails look nice).
Check out the cool picture I took! Can you tell which way is up?
My roommates and I went to Roosevelt Island for a birthday picnic (two of my roommates have their birthday on the same day!), and I took this while leaning over backwards. So the “sky” is actually the water of the reflecting pool. You can see two pink rose petals floating in the water in the upper right corner. In retrospect I guess I didn’t have to hang upside down to take this, but its more fun that way!
Anacostia, it’s like the Narrows of DC – if DC were Batman’s Gotham City. However, despite it’s intimidating atmosphere, where did the name of this area come from?
Anacostia is named after the Necostan Native Americans, also known as the Anacostan Indians. Their settlement on the shores of the Anacostia River was known as Nacochtank. Apparently Cap. John Smith ran into this friendly tribe while he was trying to find the Potomac River. The Anacostia River is one of the main branches of the Potomac River, and the good Captain sailed up this portion around 1608 as he searched for the Potomac.
Anacostia, named after the friendly tribe that lived there, became a neighborhood of DC in 1854, it was mainly inhabited by the blue collar workers of DC, particularly for African Americans and Irish settlers – though both these cultures were initially refused the right own property in DC.
I found this interesting article on street names of Anacostia. Apparently Good Hope Road was used by John Wilkes Booth as part of his escape route into Virginia after he shot President Lincoln.
And now you know the rest of the story!
When I was in high school I remember listening to Paul Harvey’s “The Rest of the Story.” I loved hearing the random bits of information. So today I have a few random bits of information for you!
If you have ever been in DC you’re probably aware of the many weird location names, like Foggy Bottom. Well, I finally took a little bit of time and looked up a few of these names, and I’ll be sharing the story behind them a little bit at a time!
Today, I’ll tell you why Foggy Bottom is called Foggy Bottom. (I think it’s a very English sounding name. When I say it in my head it is almost always in an English accent. To my British readers: perhaps this is complete ignorance on my part, but it does sound better with an English accent.) Foggy Bottom is the low area near the Potomac River where George Washington University is located. A long time ago, this used to be the more industrial part of town, there were several factories. The combination of the proximity to the river and the smoke from the factories may have caused this area to be foggy. Hence the name, Foggy Bottom.
And, did you know before it was called Foggy Bottom, this area was better known as Funkstown? And now you know the rest of the story!
Image Source: washingtonpost.com via Trena on Pinterest
